8 Mistakes You May Be Making On LinkedIn
If your LinkedIn profile looks like an exact carbon copy of your resume, stop and and take some notes because 9 times out of 10, your profile isn’t where it needs to be.
If you didn’t know, LinkedIn is the top social network for job recruiting, and most recruiters use it to source and review candidates. There are over 400 million people that have LinkedIn, but only about half are using it to its fullest potential. Sometimes we as LinkedIn users unknowingly make mistakes on our profile that in return can cost us our next interview or job.
Below are 8 common mistakes that I have seen many people make. Remember your LinkedIn profile is a representation of you so treat it with the best care and attention.
1. You and your endorsements are all over the place
There are so many things that we need to let go in 2017, one of which is letting people endorse you for any and everything (and letting it show on your profile). On your profile, you can delete endorsements and you can also rearrange them so that your best endorsements are listed first, and the basic ones are listed last.
When I am reviewing candidates and look at their profile, if Microsoft Word and PowerPoint are the first few endorsements that I see, I immediately roll my eyes. Nowadays everyone is able to use Microsoft Word, so the fact that you know how to use it is not impressive.
2. You put all of your classes on LinkedIn
In school I took so many classes that were literally a waste of time. Although they were “required” for my degree program, I don’t use most of the information learned in my current career. On the same note, every class that you have taken is not important enough to put on your LinkedIn. I know this sounds harsh, but it is true. When you are adding “courses taken” on your LinkedIn profile, only include courses that are critical to the career that you have now (or are seeking). If you are looking for a career in human resources, your recruiter won’t care about the class that you took in Art Design or Music.
3. Your LinkedIn looks like your Instagram selfie
On LinkedIn, I have seen too many professional selfies from both women and men. A professional selfie is a photo of yourself with professional clothes on from the waist up. You may also add a few filters on the photo for special effects and your makeup is slightly on fleek for a nice, subtle look.
I recommend finding a photography student or aspiring photographer and get some nice headshots taken. More than likely the photographer won’t charge you a lot, and you will only need to 1-2 photos.
4. Your verb tense usage is confusing
Similar to your resume, when you are describing your current and past work experience, you need to make sure you are using the correct verb tense. If you are discussing your past work experience, be sure to put your action verbs in past tense, and your current experience in present tense. In addition, your verb usage should be consistent as well. Here are two examples of consistent and inconsistent verb usage
[Tweet "#xoGem: Use the correct verb tense on your LinkedIn profile."]
Inconsistent
- Provided customer service to new and old clients
- Meets area and regional goals
- Marketed brand to community leaders
Consistent
- Manages social media accounts and analyzes data
- Conducts market research on competing brands
- Leads and develops a marketing and branding team
5. You don’t have any data to backup your experience
As the saying goes, women lie, men lie, but numbers don’t; it is the same when it comes down to your LinkedIn or resume. It is always a must to quantify your experience by providing real numbers and data. In return, it will further solidify you as an expert and it will show that you know what you are talking about in regards to your experience.
6. You simply cut and pasted your resume into your profile
On LinkedIn, you have the opportunity to add visuals and links - something that cannot be done with a traditional resume. When you are creating or updating your LinkedIn, don’t just copy and paste your resume into your profile. Take time to provide visuals and a portfolio to your profile. The more visuals and information that you provide, the more appealing your profile will be.
7. You send those “default” messages that look like spam
When I use LinkedIn from my phone, I get notifications when my connections publish a post, get a new job, has a work anniversary, etc. Once I get this notification, I am able to send a pre-designed message to them. This default message is very bland and boring and honestly it looks spam-ish. When you are communicating or connecting with others, take the time out to customize your message. It will appear more genuine and it will give you the opportunity to start a meaningful conversation with your connections.
8. Your LinkedIn url isn’t SEO friendly
For the highest search rankings, simplify your LinkedIn url as much as you can so that when people look for you online, your profile will easily appear. In this article, there is a simple guide on customizing your URL and you can do it in literally one minute. If you use your Twitter or Facebook in a professional manner, you can also customize your LinkedIn url to match your other social media profiles for a higher SEO ranking.
What are some other mistakes that you think you could be making on your LinkedIn? Let us know and we may have an idea on how you can fix it!
Brittani Hunter is a proud PVAMU alumni and the founder of The Mogul Millennial, a business and career platform for Black Millennials. Meet Brittani on Twitter and on the Gram at @BrittaniLHunter and @mogulmillennial.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
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I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
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That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
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So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
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